Casket-carrier



. J.M0LAUGHLIN. GASKET GARRIRR.

Patented Nov. '7, 1893.

awww/to@ nnnnnnnnnnnn c.

UNITED STATESn PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MCLAUGHLIN, OF ELMIRA, OHIO.

GASKET-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,179, dated November7, 1893. Application iea May 8.1893. serial 110.473,47). (No man.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOSEPH MCLAUGHLIN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the Vcounty ofFulton andState of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Casket- Carrier,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in casket carriers.

The object of the present invention is toV provide asimple, inexpensiveand efficient casket carrier, adapted to be readily handled, and capableof conveniently conveying a casket in a church or house along narrowaisles and passageways, where there is insufficient room to permitpersons at both sides of the casket for the purpose of carrying thesame.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of axles are secured by clips 4 to the centers or adjacentthereto to longitudinally disposed vside springs 5 5a arranged in pairsat each axle. The rear side springs have their front ends secured toatransverse spring bar 6, and their rear ends are attached to the endsof a transverse spring 7, which is centrally secured by a clip 8 to ametallic spring casing Q'lhe spring casing 9 consists of triangularsides provided at their upper edges with securing flanges, and anoppositely inclined bottom on the apex of which is arranged the clip 8.

The front axle has the rear ends of its side springs attached to theends of a transverse spring 10,which is centrally secured by a clip 11to the rear end of a Vfshaped frame 12.

The V-shaped frame 12 has securedto it a fifth-wheel consisting of acircular plate 13 secured to a bolster 14 and the lower circular plate15, which is provided with iianges 16, and the latter are bent upwardover the upper face of the upper plate 13, which projects beyond acentral circular portion 17. The plates of the fifth wheel are connectedby a pivot 18, onwhich the front truck is free to turn completely toenable the casket carrier to make an exceedingly short turn.

The front ends of the sides of the V-shaped frame 12 are provided withiianges 19, provided With perforations, and adapted to be engaged byoutwardly turned ends 2O of resilient diverging arms 21 of a handle 22,detachably connected with the front truck. The handle is preferablyconstructed of a single piece of rod iron, but it may be differentlyconstructed.

The front and rear trucks support a platform 23, and it will be readilyapparent that the casket carrier will enable a casket to be safely,conveniently and expeditiously conveyed through narrow passageways andaisles where there is insufficient space Yto permit persons to walk ateach side of a coffin, and thereby avoids the dangerous and troublesomemeans usually employed for conveying a casket through` such spaces, bycausing it to be carried by two persons stationed at the head and footof it.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this in- Vention.

The clips 4 which secure the side springs 5 and 5na to the front andrear axles extend under the axles along the springs and are provided attheir ends with pairs of lugs, which are bent over upon the upper facesof the springs.

What I claim is- 1. A casket carrier comprising a platform,

iianges and an oppositely inclinedr bottom provided at its apex with aclip, a transverse a spring bar secured to the lower face of the IOOspring centrally secured tothe casing by said clips, side springsattached to the spring bar and to the ends of the transverse spring, arear axle clipped to the side springs, wheels journaled on the axle, anda pivoted front truck having side and transverse springs, substantiallyas described.

2. In a casket carrier, the combination of a platform, a fifth-wheel, aV-shaped frame secured to the ifthwheel and provided at its front endwith perforated flanges, a transverse spring centrally secured to therear end of the V-shaped frame, side springs extend-

